Toothpick devices



April 5, 1960 M. PETITTA 2,931,371

TOO'IHPICK nzvxczs Filed Jan. 23, 1958 INYENTOR, Ave/4 fiif/i/J,

nited States The present invention is an improvement in the art relatingto toothpicks.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel implementpresenting an extending quill for toothpick use. This quill is formed ofthe end of a flat ribbon which is of Celluloid, plastic, bristol boardor other resil ient paper-thin material; such implement serving as thetoothpick handle, the former to bend the tape into a duct-form, ashereafter described and preferably as the holder of a compact supply ofthe ribbon stock.

Another object thereof is to provide a novel toothpick device of thecharacter mentioned, accomplishing automatic duct formation of the endregion of the initially fiat ribbon, so that a used toothpick point canbe cut oh and a new one made, thus affording a new toothpick for use atapproximately every three-quarter inch or so of the ribbon supply.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improvedtoothpick device of the kind set forth, which is simple in construction,easy to use, reasonably cheap to manufacture, relatively small in sizeand eficient for the purposes it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosureproceeds.

For the practice of this invention, one form it may assume comprises aholder having a roll of the fiat ribbon and a tubular member throughwhich the ribbon lies and extends therefrom, say for about threequarters of an inch. Such extending free end of the ribbon which is outof the forward end of the tubular member, is cut with a scissors to bein the form of an unslit pen point. The forward end of said tubularmember is round and its rear end is flattened. The opening in the rearend is a narrow elongated slot admitting the ribbon in flat condition.The diameter of the opening in the forward end of said tubular member isapproximately between a third and a half of the width of the ribbon. Theribbon through the tubular member will be automatically formed andextend forwardly thereof in duct form. Depending upon the size of theforward opening, the extending formed part of the ribbon will be a ductwhich is tubular, a tubeform with a longitudinal opening or alongitudinal channel-form, the free end of which is then cut by the userto quill-form. If desired, a removable cap may be provided to shield theexposed quill to maintain it in sanitary condition and the holder forthe ribbon supply may be an openable casing. The entire device may be ofplastic, metal or other suitable material, but the ribbon must bepaper-thin and have some resilient quality.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, similarcharacters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Fig. 1 is a lengthwise view of a toothpick device embodying theteachings of this invention. The ribbon supply holder is here shown inopen condition and a removable shielding cap encasing the toothpickquill is here included. Such cap is here shown in section.

atenut-- Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1 minus the shielding cap.The ribbon supply holder is shown closed.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the tubular member. The ribbon isshown dash and dot.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken at lines 4-4 in Fig. 3. t

P Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken at lines 5-5 in ig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken as is Fig. 5, but of modified form.

Fig. 7 shows a lengthwise view of the tubular member with the free endportion of the ribbon therethrough. At the entrance into the rearopening of said member, the ribbon is flat. The forwardly. extendingfree end of the gibbon which is out of the tubular member, is ofductorm.

In the drawing, the numeral 15 designates generally a preferred form ofthe toothpick device. As shown, it consists of a tubular member 16positioned on a holder for a supply of ribbon stock. Such holder may bea casing 17 having a hinged cover 18. The ribbon supply is preferably aroll thereof indicated as 19. The free end portion of the ribbon 19 isthreaded through said tubular member and extends outwardly' therefrom,say about three-quarters of an inch to an inch, as at A." The intakeopening 20 of this tubular member is communicative with the interior ofthe casing 17 in the embodiment shown. This intake opening is a narrowslot of a size to admit the ribbon 19 in fiat condition. In fact, therearward portion 21 of the tubular member has its interior sodimensioned that the ribbon remains flat therein. The forward portionmay be circular as at 22, or square as at 23, or any other suitableshape to accomplish forming of the ribbon therethrough into duct-form.If circular or square, the distance across the forward opening of thetubular member 16, is less than the width of the ribbon, and preferablyfrom about one-third to one-half thereof, so that the ribbon will be ofduct-form along distance B; the intermediate portion of the tubularmember 16, having an interior which smoothly merges the interiors of theportions 21 and 22. The tubular member 16 can be formed by flatteningone end of a piece of suitable tubular stock.

For use, a scissors is employed to trim the extended part 24 along CC sothat the quill-form is made, meaning the form of an unslit pen point andthus serve as a toothpick. After once used, the pointed free end of theribbon is pulled out and a new point cut. It is evident that the ribbonsupply will afford a multiplicity of toothpicks for successive use.

To keep the fresh point clean until used, a cap or thirnble 25 may beprovided to shield it. This cap is of course removable from itsfrictional hold on the step 26' of the collar 26 which is carried on thetubular member 16. The tubular member aforesaid, the collar 26 and theribbon supply holder 17 comprise a unitary structure. The ribbon supplywhen spent, is then replenished. It is evident that the entire articleis quite small and can be easily carried in a ladys hand bag or in amans vest pocket.

The article described can be decoratively embellished and the ribbonstock may be of colored material.

This invention is capable of various forms and applications withoutdeparting from the essential features herein disclosed. It is thereforeintended and desired that the embodiments shown herein shall be deemedmerely illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall coverall patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being bad to thefollowing claim rather than to the specific description herein toindicate the scope of this invention.

I claim:

In a toothpick device of the character described, a comparatively shorttubular member having open ends and a comparatively long, initially fiatribbon of paper thin material having some resilient quality and having apointed free end; the end portion of said ribbon. having such pointedend, being positioned through said tubular member and extendingoutwardly a predetermined dis-- tance from one end opening of saidtubular member; the

' second end opening of said tubular member being of a size and shapeadmitting said ribbonin fiat condition;

the distance across the first end opening of said tubular m m er beingless than the width of the ribbon whereby.

the longitudinal edges of the ribbon are brought towards one anotherwhereupon said outwardly extending end part of the ribbon is formed intoa lengthwise quill adapted for use as a toothpick; the interior space ofsaid tubular member comprising three successive regions; the

interior space region ending with the first end opening of thettubularmember, having the cross-section of said first end opening; the interiorspace region ending with the second end opening of the tubular member,having the cross-section of said second end opening; the interiorsurface of the portion of the wall of the tubular member whichdetermines the intermediate space region within said tubular member,merging smoothly with the interior surfaces of the portions of the wallof said tubular member, which determine the other interior spaceregions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,104,742 "Arnold July 21, 1914 1,210,205 Richardson Dec. 26, 19162,200,933 Nystrom et a1 May 14, 1940 2,226,442 Rumsey Dec. 24, 1940

